Toy football

ABSTRACT

A plastic shell, shaped in the form of a football contains a pair of internal brackets. A gyroscope is rotatably attached to these brackets with its axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the football. A flexible plastic gear rack engages a pinion gear on the gyroscope, and when pulled through the football, sets the gyroscope in motion. When thrown, the football assumes a nearly perfect spiral rotation during flight.

United States Patent Paterick et al.

TOY FOOTBALL Inventors: Robert J. Paterick, 6228 West Leroy, Milwaukee, Wis. 53220; Eugenio R. Llana, 1580 North Farwell, Apt. 316, Milwaukee, Wis. 53202; Jerry L. Kleman, 3918 West Orchard, Milwaukee, Wis. 53215 Filed: Dec. 30, 1971 Appl. No; 213,859

U.S. Cl. ..273/65 R, 273/65 EF, 46/50 Int. Cl. ..A63b 43/00, A63h 1/04, A63b l/32 Field of Search ..273/65, 128, 106; 46/50 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS McCall... ..273/l28 R x Riddell ..-...273/65 EF [151 3,700,239 [451 Oct. 24,1972

3,229,413 1/1966 Bross ..46/50 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 348,561 5/1937 Italy ..46/50 Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney-Donald G. Casser et al.

57 ABSTRACT A plastic shell, shaped in the form of a football contains a pair of internal brackets. A gyroscope is rotatably attached to these brackets with its axis of rotation coincident with the axis: of rotation of the football. A flexible plastic gear rack engages a pinion gear on the gyroscope, and when pulled through the football, sets the gyroscope in motion. When thrown, the football assumes a nearly perfect spiral rotation during flight.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEnnmmn 3.100.239

' INVENTORS ROBERT J.PATERICK EUGENIO R.LLANA ATTORNEY JERRY L. KLEMAN TOY FOOTBALL SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is comprised of a football shaped shell, 9. gyroscope rotatably mounted within the shell, and a drive means for setting the gyroscope into motion which includes a pinion gear connected to one end of the gyroscope and a gear rack insertable through the shell to engage the pinion gear and rotate the same when pulled. The gear rack is made of a flexible plastic material having a handle integrally formed to one end. It is inserted through openings in the football, and when removed by pulling, the gyroscope is rotated about an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the football. When thrown, therefore, the football assumes a nearly perfect spiral rotation during flight.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a toy football which will spiral when thrown. A passage is formed through a supporting bracket and a gear rack is passed through this passage to intersect a pinion gear on the gyroscope shaft. The gyroscope is set in motion by pulling the gear rack back through the passage, completely removing it from the football before it is thrown. The football need not be disassembled each time the gyroscope is to be set in motion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel toy football which can be economically constructed from inexpensive materials. Because the invention is a toy, the total cost is kept within reasonable limits, and the structure is reliable and durable to withstand the rough treatment expected.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following descriptions. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation a preferred embodiment of the invention. Changes may be made in the illustrated embodiment and different embodiments may be devised which will be within the spirit and scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view with parts cut away of my new toy football,

FIG. 2 is a view in cross section taken along the plane defined by the line 2-2 in FIG. 3, 7

FIG. 3 is a view in cross section taken along the plan defined by the line 33 in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the toy football with the gear rack removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The presently-preferred structure described herein is a toy which has been reduced in size to about one-half that of a regulation football. Referring to the drawings, a cover or shell 1 is formed in the familiar football shape by bonding an upper half-section 2 to a lower half-section 3 along a transverse seam 4. The shell 1 is constructed of a durable, relatively flexible plastic, although it is contemplated that other materials such as synthetic rubber may also be used. As is well known to even the least experienced football player, it is desirable when throwing a football to cause it to spin, or rotate about its longitudinal axis. Such a pass, when unaccompanied by wobbling, is termed a spiral pass. The attainment of a spiral pass is virtually insured by the toy football of the present invention with the addition of a gyroscope 5 contained within the shell 1. A gyroscope, when set in motion, resists forces which attempt to change its axis of rotation. This phenomenon is employed herein by mounting the gyroscope 5 within the shell 1 such that its axis of rotation is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the toy football. When set in motion, or spun, the gyroscope 5 encourages rotation about the longitudinal axis of the football and resists forces which tend to cause the football to wobble during flight.

The gyroscope 5 is attached to the shell 1 by a pair of brackets 6 and 7 which extend transversely across the interior of the shell 1 and attach to both the upper halfsection 2 and lower half-section 3. The brackets 6 and 7 are spaced apart and the gyroscope 5 is mounted between them. The gyroscope 5 includes a circular cylindrical body portion 8, which may be molded of a rigid plastic, and a hub portion integrally formed with the cylindrical body 8 along its central axis. The cylindrical body portion 8 includes a relatively heavy outer annular flange portion 8A and a thin interior web 8b which is joined to the shaft 9, (see especially FIG. 3). A shaft 10'extends through the hub portion 9 and has shoulders 11 near each end thereof. The gyroscope 5 is rotatably suspended between the brackets 6 and 7 by inserting each end of the shaft 10 into openings in a bearing wall 12 formed on each bracket 6 and 7, with a shoulder 11 contacting each bearing wall to limit axial movement of the gyroscope. The openings in the bearing walls 12 which receive the ends of the shaft 10 are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the football, and therefore, the axis of rotation of the gyroscope 5 is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the football. Also formed on each end of the shaft 10, immediately adjacent-each shoulder 11, is a pinion gear 13. The pinion gears 13 may be integrally molded with the gyroscope 5 or formed or molded in a separate opera tion and force fitted to the shaft 10.

The brackets 6 and 7 are identical, each being generally channel shaped having an upper wall 14 and lower wall 14a joined by an outer wall 15 and inner wall 15a. The channel thus formed is divided into two portions by a central rib 16 connected to the outer wall 15 and the inner wall 15a and extending the length of each bracket 6 and 7. At the midpoint of each bracket 6 and 7 the central rib 16 is broken and the outer wall 15 is thickened to form the bearing wall 12 to which the gyroscope S is rotatably attached.

When assembled, each pinion gear 13 is located within a channel formed by the brackets 6 and 7, and specifically, in the opening formed. by the break in each rib 16. That portion of the channel to one side of the central rib 16 of the bracket 6, forms a passage 17 having openings 18 at each end formed through the shell 1. The passage 17, therefore, forms a rectangular opening which passes completely through the football. The pinion gear 13 associated with the bracket '6 intersects the passage 17 at its midpoint.

A gear rack 19, preferably made of a flexible plastic, or synthetic rubber material, is inserted through the passage 17. The gear rack 19 has a rectangular cross section and a series of teeth 20 are formed along one of its sides over a substantial portion of its length. A handle 21 is molded on one end of the gear rack 19. When inserted through the passage 17, the gear rack teeth 20 intersect the gear teeth on the pinion gear 13. By rapidly withdrawing, or pulling the gear rack 19 back through the passage 17, the pinion gear 13 and attached gyroscope are set into rotary motion. The gear rack 19 is pulled completely free as shown in FIG. 4 and the football may then be thrown with the assurance that a perfect spiral pass will result.

There has thus been described a toy football in accordance with this invention includes a football-shaped shell, a gyroscope mounted within the shell and drive means for actuating the gyroscope. Although described hereinabove with reference to a ball one-half the size of a regulation football, the toy football of the present invention may be incorporated in other sizes, such as a three-quarter size or a regulation-size football. Drive means for actuating the gyroscope can be suitably utilized other than the rack and pinion gear mechanism disclosed. For example, one may construct the gyroscope with the rotating body portion having north and south magnetic poles, and then provide for excitation of the field by current from an exterior stator, either AC or battery powered, to thereby provide a magnetically-actuated gyroscope. Another drive means may include a separate base member having a motor driven shaft that can be temporarily connected to the football to cause the gyroscope to be rotated. It is contemplated that changes can be made in the illustrative embodiment described above and that other changes will be devised by those skilled in the art that will remain within the true spirit and scope of our present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy football adapted to be thrown like a conventional football and assume a nearly perfect spiral rotation during flight comprising, in combination:

a shell formed in the shape of a football,

a gyroscope mounted inside the shell and adapted to rotate with its axis of rotation substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the shell; and

drive means for setting the gyroscope in motion.

2. A toy football adapted to be thrown like a conventional football and assume a nearly perfect spiral rotation during flight, the combination comprising:

a shell formed in the shape of a football,

a pair of spaced brackets, each attached to the shell and completely contained therein,

a gyroscope rotatably attached to the spaced brackets with its axis of rotation aligned substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the shell; and

drive means for setting the gyroscope into motion.

3. The toy football as recited in claim 2, in which the drive means includes a pinion gear attached to the gyroscope and a gear rack manually operable to engage and rotate the pinion gear when pulled.

4. The toy football as recited in claim 3 wherein a passage is formed through the toy football, the passage being intersected by the pinion gear such that the gear rack can be pulled through the passage to set the gyroscope in motion.

5. The toy football as recited in claim 3 wherein one of the brackets is shaped to define a channel in which the pinion gear 15 positioned, and openings are formed in the shell at each end of the channel to define a passage through the toy football such that the gear rack can be pulled through the passage to set the gyroscope in motion. 

1. A toy football adapted to be thrown like a conventional football and assume a nearly perfect spiral rotation during flight comprising, in combination: a shell formed in the shape of a football, a gyroscope mounted inside the shell and adapted to rotate with its axis of rotation substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the shell; and drive means for setting the gyroscope in motion.
 2. A toy football adapted to be thrown like a conventional football and assume a nearly perfect spiral rotation during flight, the combination comprising: a shell formed in the shape of a football, a pair of spaced brackets, each attached to the shell and completely contained therein, a gyroscope rotatably attached to the spaced brackets with its axis of rotation aligned substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the shell; and drive means for setting the gyroscope into motion.
 3. The toy football as recited in claim 2, in which the drive means includes a pinion gear attached to the gyroscope and a gear rack manually operable to engage and rotate the pinion gear when pulled.
 4. The toy football as recited in claim 3 wherein a passage is formed through the toy football, the passage being intersected by the pinion gear such that the gear rack can be pulled through the passage to set the gyroscope in motion.
 5. The toy football as recited in claim 3 wherein one of the brackets is shaped to define a channel in which the pinion gear is positioned, and openings are formed in the shell at each end of the channel to define a passage through the toy football such that the gear rack can be pulled through the passage to set the gyroscope in motion. 